Ella Louise Jenkins, beloved children's folk singer, has left a monumental legacy in music.
Ella Louise Jenkins, a pioneering children's music artist known as the "First Lady of the Children's Folk Song," died on November 9, 2024, at the age of 100, Billboard reported.
Born on August 6, 1924, in St. Louis and later raised in Chicago's South Side, Jenkins's early life was rich with musical influence. Initially, her Uncle Flood introduced her to the harmonica and blues, while, in addition, gospel music and live performances also played a significant role in shaping her artistic journey.
As a child, Jenkins was captivated by diverse performances at the Regal Theater near her home, where she experienced singing and tap dancing. Her passion for the arts emerged early as she sang and crafted rhymes with peers. Reflecting on those days, she recalled her fascination with live entertainment, which, in turn, led her to learn tap dancing. Furthermore, her culturally rich neighborhood profoundly influenced her later work.
In the early 1950s, Jenkins’s formal music career began at a YWCA as a program director, where she further explored and developed her musical skills. Notably, her debut album, "Call-And-Response: Rhythmic Group Singing," was released in 1957 through Folkways Records. This, in turn, marked the beginning of a prolific output that would encompass 39 albums over several decades.
Jenkins was not only a studio artist; she also took her music across the globe, performing on all seven continents. Moreover, her musical style, which focused on multicultural children's songs, introduced young listeners to a variety of global musical traditions. This approach is reflected in her 1995 album, Multicultural Children's Songs, which became Smithsonian Folkways Recordings' most popular release.
Furthermore, Ella Jenkins's influence extended into popular children's television shows, including appearances on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Barney & Friends, and Sesame Street. Through these platforms, she was able to reach and inspire a larger audience, thereby solidifying her status as a cornerstone in children's entertainment.
In recognition of her lifetime achievements, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honored Jenkins in 2004. Additionally, the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry preserved her song "You'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song" for its cultural significance.
Ella Jenkins spent her final days at the Harbors at The Admiral at the Lake, a senior facility in Chicago, surrounded by a community that cherished her. Although her death marks the end of an era, it also celebrates a life that enriched countless children and adults alike through music.
Discussing her relationship with music and its roots in her community, Ella Jenkins shared her insights.
I've always liked music. Even when I was a child in our neighborhood, we sang and made up rhymes. It was very important to be able to carry a tune and to learn songs. In the neighborhood I grew up in Chicago, there was the Regal Theater, which had live entertainment. There were singers and tap dancers - tap dancing really intrigued me. Pretty soon I asked my mother if I could go to one of the centers and learn how to tap dance.
This innate love for music and performance, in turn, shaped Jenkins's approach to engaging young audiences with her interactive call-and-response singing style, which ultimately became a signature of her performances and recordings.
Ella Louise Jenkins lived a remarkable life, leaving a lasting legacy of music that continues to educate and entertain. Furthermore, her focus on inclusivity and cultural awareness set a high standard in children's music. As a centenarian, her dedication to the arts impacted generations, ensuring that her influence on children's music education will endure for years.
